Police Seek Witnesses: Anyone who witnessed the altercation early Thursday that led to the death of a 26-year-old Crown Point man is asked to call Detective Ryan Patrick at (219) 663-2131, Ext. 115.

CROWN POINT | A 26-year-old Crown Point man is dead after being stabbed early Thursday morning on the courthouse square in Crown Point.

Police were called at 1:36 a.m. Thursday to the 100 block of South Court Street in response to a call of an altercation that led to a stabbing, according to a news release from the Crown Point Police Department.

When officers arrived, they found the victim lying on the sidewalk with a wound to his abdomen. He was surrounded by people he knew, who were helping with his injury.

The man told police he didn't know the person who stabbed him during their verbal argument. Witnesses told police the suspect fled north after the stabbing. They provided police with a description, according to the news release.

The victim was taken to Franciscan St. Anthony Health in Crown Point. Police found the suspect, a 22-year-old Crown Point man, walking near Summit Street and Merrillville Road. He had blood and a cut on his hand. During initial questioning, he admitted he was involved in the incident, according to police.

Detectives processed the scene and gathered statements. During their investigation, police were told the victim died at the hospital. The Lake County coroner's office is investigating the cause of death, according to police. No one from the coroner's office was available Thursday.

Charges have not been filed, and the names of the victim and suspect are not being released yet, police said.

"We have been in contact with the Lake County prosecutor's office on the case and are continuing to interview witnesses and process the evidence we've collected," Chief Pete Land stated. "We have also obtained a statement from the suspect. With certain aspects of the information conflicting, we will want to make sure we speak with as many witnesses as we can, so we are asking for anyone that may have information on the incident to contact our detectives."

CROWN POINT — Police say they have recovered the knife allegedly used in the fatal stabbing of a 26-year-old Crown Point man on the downtown square early Thanksgiving morning.

Crown Point Police Chief Pete Land said police early Friday morning located the knife believed to have been used in the stabbing during a search of the possible paths a suspect may have taken after he left the scene to where he was located walking by police near the intersection of Merrillville Road and Summit Street.

“The suspect was located about one mile from where the crime occurred so our officers had a large area to check, particularly since the only way to conduct an effective search is by walking,” Land said in a news release.

The victim, Brandon Huseman, was walking with a group of people at a little after 1:30 a.m. Thursday in the 100 block of Court Street when he was stabbed in the abdomen by another man following a verbal altercation, according to police. Police said Huseman did not know his attacker.

Following the stabbing, police apprehended a 21-year-old Crown Point man who is a possible suspect. He was taken into custody near the area of Summit Street and Merrillville Road. The man matched descriptions provided by witnesses and there was blood and a cut on the man’s hand when police found him.

Police have not identified the man and have called him a person of interest. Police have not confirmed or denied whether the man is in custody.

In the hours after the stabbing, police located pieces of evidence they believe are linked to the crime. Land said since that time the department’s detectives and officers continued with the search on the possible paths the suspect may have taken away from the original location.

The extensive search was done primarily on foot and involved checking trash receptacles, alleys and bushes along the way.

“We have three of our detectives that have been working exclusively on this case since it happened and we are taking every step need to present as thorough a case as possible to the prosecutor’s office for review,” Land said.

Police didn’t release the specific location where the knife was found. Police confirmed it was along one of the paths the suspect could have taken.

CROWN POINT | Results of an investigation into the Thanksgiving Day fatal stabbing of Brandon Huseman were turned over Monday to Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter's office.

Charges have not yet been filed, and the name of a suspect was not released pending formal charges.

The prosecutor's office is reviewing the case and has asked for additional information "in order to further evaluate this matter," Carter said in a joint news release with Crown Point Police Chief Pete Land.

"We believe we have a strong, compelling case and will continue to work with (Carter's) office in the ongoing investigation," Land said.

"What I can say is that based on what we have learned we know that this was an isolated incident and only involved the one suspect whom we have positively identified," Land said.

Police were called to the scene of the stabbing about 1:35 a.m. Thursday in the 100 block of South Court Street and found Huseman, 26, of Crown Point, lying mortally wounded on the sidewalk, surrounded by acquaintances.

The Lake County coroner's office said Huseman died of a stab wound to the abdomen as a result of a homicide. He died about 8 a.m. at Franciscan St. Anthony Health hospital in Crown Point.

The stabbing stemmed from an argument that escalated to a physical confrontation, Land said. Huseman was able to tell police he did not know the person who stabbed him.

A 22-year-old man matching a description provided by witnesses was questioned after police found him near the intersection of Summit Street and Merrillville Road.

The man's hand was cut and had blood on it, police said. The suspect admitted being involved in the stabbing, police said.

A knife found by police early Friday is believed to have been used in the stabbing. Police did not say where they found the knife. Other evidence also was found, but police would not say what it was or where they found it.

Three Crown Point police detectives were assigned to the case, Land said.

CROWN POINT — Police are continuing their search for witnesses to a fatal stabbing on the downtown square early Thanksgiving morning.

On Monday the Crown Point Police Department presented all the information detectives had gathered to that point to the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office for review.

“On our end it’s still an ongoing investigation,” Crown Point Police Chief Pete Land said Tuesday.

The stabbing occurred a little after 1:30 a.m. Thursday in the 100 block of Court Street. Crown Point resident Brandon Huseman, 26, died from a stab wound to the abdomen.

Huseman was with a group of others on the square when a verbal altercation occurred. The man stabbed Huseman and fled. Police later apprehended a 22-year-old Crown Point man who fit the description provided by witnesses. The suspect was previously unknown to police.

“We believe we have a strong, compelling case and we will continue to work with the prosecutor’s office in the ongoing investigation,” Land said.

Police Friday recovered the knife believed to be used in the stabbing after an extensive foot search of possible paths the man may have taken following the altercation. Police arrested the man near the intersection of Merrillville Road and Summit Street. Land said police search alleys, trash receptacles and bushes to find the weapon. He would not comment on the type of knife used in the killing.

“What we have to do is continue to search for witnesses who may have additional information,” Land said.

Police are interested in speaking to anyone not associated with either party who may have seen something that night.

“What I can say is that based on what we have learned we know that this was an isolated incident and only involved the one suspect whom we have positively identified,” Land said.

The name of the suspect is being withheld pending the filing of formal charges. Land declined to comment if alcohol was involved in incident.

A spokesman from the prosecutor’s office Tuesday said investigation into the matter is ongoing.

Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter said in a release his office has been presented with the case file but is seeking additional information.

“After careful review, a request for additional information was made in order to further evaluate this matter,” Carter said. “The Lake County Prosecutor’s Office will continue to work with the Crown Point Police Department on this investigation.”

Police were on the scene within minutes of being called on Nov. 24, and the department has since beefed up police presence on the square, a four-block commercial area surrounding the historic Lake County courthouse at the city's center.

Putting more police on foot and in unmarked cars on the square overnight already had been planned for the holiday season as a resumption of a program initiated during the summer, police said.

"The downtown square has always been a priority for us and will continue to be," Janda said last week. The stabbing was "an isolated and senseless incident," Janda said.

Prior to the incident, the most recent homicides in Crown Point were in 2009 and 2005.

Mary Zajic, 61, was found dead in February 2009 in the bedroom of a home she shared with her brother, John Zajic, 57. John Zajic died of apparent natural causes in March 2009 while in jail awaiting trial on charges he'd killed his sister and failed to report her death.

Abbie Vitoux, 52, was found fatally strangled in her apartment in June 2005. A jury in March 2006 acquitted Allen Vitoux, Abbie Vitoux's son, of murder charges.

Previous murder cases go back more than a decade, including the 1970 shooting death of a man in a downtown apartment. A suspect was not convicted in that case, according to earlier reports.

In October 1989, a local man shot his wife and then himself. An 18-year-old woman died in February 1997 at the hands of a former boyfriend, who then killed himself.

The May 1998 shooting death of A. LaVerne Isemonger, 70, in her mobile home, has not been solved.

CROWN POINT | A grand jury may be called to review evidence of a fatal stabbing on Thanksgiving.

"We might look to a grand jury, but that decision has not been made," Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter said Friday afternoon.

Brandon Huseman, 26, of Crown Point, died of a stab wound to the abdomen following an argument in the early morning hours of Thanksgiving among a number of men that escalated into a physical confrontation in the 100 block of South Court Street.

Police said they recovered a knife and questioned a 22-year-old man they stopped about nine blocks north of the fight scene who matched a description provided by witnesses, had suffered a cut to his hand and who admitted involvement in the stabbing.

Carter said he met recently with Crown Point police investigators.

"We reviewed what they had and asked them to take some additional statements and do some additional investigation to complete the file we have," he said.

State law permits a prosecutor to have a judge summon six members of the public and impanel them as a grand jury to meet behind closed doors to review evidence and hear testimony of apparent criminal activity.

The grand jury can issue a criminal indictment, which has the same force as a routine criminal charge the prosecutor's office regularly files.

Carter said it's conceivable police will bring back enough evidence that a decision on charges could be made without a grand jury, but he won't make that determination yet.

"There were a couple of witnesses who have not yet given statements but who are out there. Their information will be very pertinent to our determination, and the police agree," Carter said.

"They have just about everything we requested. It's just a couple more things, which I expect shortly. Then we will make a decision."

Post subject: Re: Crown Point man stabbed to death on courthouse square

Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2011 12:30 pm

Senior Member

Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2004 6:49 pmPosts: 8834Location: Stupid Liberals!

From the story's comment section

Quote:

The Hammer said on: December 2, 2011, 10:17 pm On November 24th, THIS paper printed:

***The victim was taken to Franciscan St. Anthony Health in Crown Point. Police found the suspect, a 22-year-old Crown Point man, walking near Summit Street and Merrillville Road. He had blood and a cut on his hand. During initial questioning, he admitted he was involved in the incident, according to police.***

Why is he not charged as an accomplice at the very least? Why has this person's name not been released? Police departments and Carter's office release the names of suspects all the time Who are they protecting? Or, more likely, the child of which Lake County VIP are they protecting?

Quote:

comptech said on: December 3, 2011, 2:57 amWHAT is going on here??? How can they possibly NOT have enough evidence to charge someone? The people of CP should be hounding the mayor's office to get this information released. This is starting to look like a major cover-up. What a disservice to Brandon Huseman and his entire family.

Quote:

Faast Ed said on: December 3, 2011, 8:51 amWhy would they need a grand jury?

Is somebody too scared to charge a politicians kid or something?

Quote:

Justice for ALL said on: December 3, 2011, 10:24 am My guess is that it's a son of a 'old money' family in CP... The direction he was heading, his age and where one of these families lives all match up... I think they just need to announce the name of the "suspect" so the citizens of don't lose faith in the legal system. Who are they trying to 'protect' or who has paid them for their silence???? Let's see, he had a cut and blood on his hand, showed them where the knife was and admitted to being part of the altercation...

CROWN POINT — No charges have been filed in the Thanksgiving morning stabbing that left a Crown Point man dead.

Police identified a suspect, a 22-year-old Crown Point man whom they call a person of interest in the stabbing, but are continuing their investigation into the circumstances that turned a night of holiday celebrating into a tragedy.

Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter said Crown Point police have submitted a great deal of evidence in the case and, after reviewing that evidence with Crown Point police, it was decided additional individuals need to be interviewed. Therefore the investigation into the altercation that led to the stabbing death of Brandon Huseman, 26, will continue.

Crown Point Police Chief Pete Land said the prosecutor’s office was seeking additional interviews with second- and third-tier witnesses who may have been on the Square at the time of the incident that started as a verbal confrontation between a small group and an individual that ended with Huseman, a member of the group, receiving a stab wound to the abdomen that later claimed his life.

“All we are focused on is processing everything we have and continuing our investigation,” Land said.

Carter said there are few specifics about the case on which he can comment. He said he plans to look at the additional information police will provide before making a decision on how to proceed.

Under Indiana law, it is possible to refer any case to a grand jury for evaluation or to take advantage of grand jury powers to obtain additional evidence. No decision has been made as to whether the grand jury will be used in this case, Carter said.

“We haven’t even entertained that aspect. We have not entertained that at all,” he said.

Renee Huseman, Brandon Huseman’s mother, said the family is declining to comment to avoid jeopardize the ongoing investigation.

Police are nearing the end of an almost monthlong investigation into the Nov. 24 stabbing death of Brandon Huseman, Chief Pete Land said.

All known witnesses have been interviewed, Land said.

Findings of the investigation will be turned over to the office of Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter, Land said.

Police met last week with officials in Carter's office, and additional meetings are planned, Land said. Carter's office is reviewing the case.

A suspect has not yet been identified or charged.

Huseman, 26, was with acquaintances walking in the downtown square early Thanksgiving Day when he was stabbed in the abdomen. Huseman died later that morning at Franciscan St. Anthony Health hospital in Crown Point.

The death was ruled a homicide by the Lake County coroner's office.

Police said the stabbing stemmed from an argument that escalated to a physical confrontation.

A 22-year-old man matching a description by witnesses was questioned after police found him near the intersection of Summit Street and Merrillville Road in Crown Point.

The man has not been named.

A knife found by police Nov. 25 is believed to have been used in the stabbing.

CROWN POINT | A 22-year-old Crown Point man has been charged with stabbing a man found bleeding to death on the courthouse square early Thanksgiving morning.

Jeffrey Nemcek was picked up Friday by the U.S. Marshals Service Great Lakes Regional Task Force, police said.

Police said Nemcek was charged Friday by the Lake County prosecutor's office with murder and voluntary manslaughter in the stabbing death of Brandon Huseman, of Crown Point. Nemcek was being held without bond in the Lake County Jail.

Nemcek's arrest was the result of a nearly two-month investigation by Crown Point police.

Huseman was stabbed about 1:45 a.m. Nov. 24 while walking outside in the city's downtown with a group of six friends and relatives. He died later that morning at Franciscan St. Anthony Health hospital in Crown Point.

Police said Nemcek allegedly approached Huseman and his group and made a comment about them needing a designated driver. Members of the group exchanged words with Nemcek and there was an altercation between the suspect and someone in the group, police said.

Neither Huseman nor anyone in his group was armed, police said.

Witnesses told police it appeared Huseman then was punched in the stomach by Nemcek in what one witness described as "uppercuts."

Huseman, who one witness said had been trying to act as a peacekeeper, then lifted his shirt and said, "I think I just got stabbed."

Police arrived to find Huseman lying on the sidewalk with a stab wound to his abdomen, with members of his group surrounding him. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital.

Police said they located Nemcek a short time later about a mile away and that his hands, pants and shirt had blood on them and one eye was bruised.

Police said they found Nemcek's jacket behind a Dumpster. A knife matching one allegedly described to police was found at a construction site at Main Street and Robinson Court, police said. A witness described the knife as "silver bladed."

Huseman was alive at the hospital when he told police he had never seen the suspect before, police said.

Nemcek was arrested Friday without incident at his workplace in Highland, police said.

"This young man was defending himself, nothing more," said Nemcek's attorney, Kevin Milner. "The very fact that it took this much time speaks volumes about the state's case."

Nemcek had not been arrested earlier because police "did not want to rush this case," as they sought independent witnesses not connected to Huseman or his group of friends and family, Crown Point Police Chief Pete Land said.

Throughout the investigation, which involved more than 120 hours of overtime by detectives, "we felt it prudent to go over details once, twice and three times, to present the best case possible, Land said Friday at a news conference.

Mayor David Uran said he hoped the arrest would help bring closure to the family of Huseman, an engineering graduate of Purdue University who family and friends described as "caring and devoted."

CROWN POINT — Murder and voluntary manslaughter charges were filed Friday against the lone suspect in the fatal early Thanksgiving morning stabbing of a Crown Point man on the downtown square.

Crown Point Police Chief Pete Land and Mayor David Uran announced the charges and arrest of Jeffrey M. Nemcek, 22, of Crown Point in a news conference Friday evening.

Nemcek is accused of stabbing Crown Point resident Brandon Huseman, 26, in the abdomen about 1:30 a.m. Nov. 24 after a verbal altercation escalated into a physical confrontation.

Huseman died in surgery later that morning at Franciscan St. Anthony Health in Crown Point after identifying Nemcek from a photo array. According to the probable cause affidavit, Huseman’s liver was nearly severed in the attack.

Nemcek was taken into custody without incident Friday from his workplace at Sears Appliance, 120 U.S. 41 in Schererville, by the U.S. Marshall’s Great Lakes Regional Task Force. He is being held in the Lake County Jail on a no-bond warrant.

“We think this is a good first step into bringing some closure to (Huseman’s) family,” Uran said.

A visibly upset Kevin Huseman of Lowell, Brandon’s father, arrived at the police station to pick up documents as the news conference ended. Kevin Huseman said the family was not prepared to comment.

Land said the department has been working hard the past eight weeks to present a solid case to the prosecutor’s office. Cmdr. Len Homola said the department put in between 120 and 150 man hours of overtime working the case along with the weeks of regular hours worked by police. Detectives Ryan Patrick and Robert Franko led the investigation with Homola.

“The challenge we had is we didn’t have an independent witness. In any case, that is the ideal situation,” Land said.

Witnesses to the crime were in the group of two men and four women with Huseman at the time of the stabbing. One of the witnesses was Huseman’s wife, Kristin. Nemcek was alone. Land said police tried unsuccessfully to find additional witnesses since so many people were out on the square celebrating for Thanksgiving eve.

“We were cognizant of the fact this is obviously very serious. We felt it was prudent to deliberately take our time and be as prudent as possible (with the investigation),” he said.

Witnesses were interviewed several times and their stories remained consistent, officials said. Police also subpoenaed and reviewed surveillance video from a number of downtown business including Centier Bank, but none captured the attack.

According to the probable cause affidavit the altercation took place when Huseman and his group were leaving the Bar Association bar at 101 S. Court St. Witnesses said the group was walking south on Court Street when a man later identified as Nemcek walked passed them southbound.

When Nemcek passed the group, he said “you guys look like you could use a DD (designated driver),” according to witness accounts. Someone in Huseman’s group responded, “you look like you need a designated driver” to Nemcek, who then turned around and started walking toward the group making statements including “What, you got something to say to me?” and “What, you want to fight?”

Witnesses said Huseman attempted to disperse the group, raising his hands and telling his friends, “We’re leaving.” It was at that time, witnesses said, Nemcek appeared to punch Huseman three times. Witnesses described Huseman as the smallest person in the group. At no time did Huseman exchange words with Nemcek, they said.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Huseman said he did not realize he had been stabbed until he saw the blood. Police were able to get a statement from Huseman at the hospital before he died.

Nemcek was unknown to members of Huseman’s group. Nemcek has had minor encounters with law enforcement including a charge last fall for hunting or fishing without a license, Land said. He also previously was charged with possession of marijuana. The disposition of those charges was unknown at press time.